25 things to watch in 2025

County pummeled by storm—1 year ago

this past week, some may have forgotten what occurred exactly one year ago.

Terms like “Snow-pocalypse,” “Snowmaggedon,” and “Snowicane” were among the nicknames

bestowed on one of Gilpin County’s most ferocious snowstorms that occurred one year ago this

week between March 13 and 15, 2024.

Light snow began falling the afternoon of Wednesday, March 13, as Denver TV weather forecast-

ers had predicted. As the evening and overnight hours arrived, the snow became relentless.

By Thursday, an estimated 61.5 inches (just over five feet) had fallen in the Aspen Springs neigh-

borhood near the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office. Approximately 54 inches were reported in Rol-

linsville, 42 inches in Pinecliff, 53.7 inches in Idaho Springs, and 41.3 inches along I-70 at Floyd

Hill.

Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin Armstrong declared a local disaster the morning of March 14. Three

days later, the Gilpin Board of County Commissioners held a rare Sunday morning meeting to af-

firm Armstrong’s decision and extended the declaration at a special meeting the following week.

The heavy snowfall, which made many county roads nearly impassable for days, prompted com-

missioners Susan Berumen, Marie Mornis, and Sandy Hollingworth to hold the special videocon-

ference meeting. Several department heads provided updates on the impact of snowmageddon.

Gilpin County Public Works Director John Combs said his snowplowing teams had worked 12-

hour shifts around the clock attempting to clear the approximate 148 miles of local roads, most of

which are unpaved.

Armstrong’s office reported rescuing dozens of stranded motorists, especially along Highway

46, which various traffic apps told motorists to use because I-70 had

been shut down. The highway didn’t re-

open until 1 p.m. on

Saturday, March 16.

in the bull’s eye of

the storm,” the sheriff

told the county com-

missioners.

people were taken to

a warming center es-

tablished at the Gilpin

County Justice Center

while county leaders

requested assistance

from the Red Cross and

local volunteers. “Our

deputies were working

tirelessly,” Armstrong

reported, noting that the

county’s dispatch center

received hundreds of

emergency calls following

the onset of the storm.

Missouri Gulch.

CDOT said eastbound I-70 left-lane

closures are occurring this week between

Hidden Valley (Exit 243) and the U.S. 6

interchange (Exit 244).

Grading will occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.,

while materials will be removed between 7

a.m. and 5 p.m.

Expect daytime and overnight right-lane

closures on both eastbound and west-

bound I-70 between the U.S. 6 interchange

(Exit 244) and County Road 65 (Exit 248).

Work crews will be carrying out construc-

tion access, drainage, and utility work

through Friday.

The eastbound lane restrictions will

be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. today

(Thursday) and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

on Friday. Westbound lane restrictions

are expected from midnight to 5 p.m. on

Wednesday, March 12, and from 7 a.m. to

5 p.m. today (Thursday).

Rock blasting operations will continue

this week in the West Section of the $700

million I-70 Floyd Hill project between

Exit 243 (Hidden Valley – Central City

Parkway) and the Veterans Memorial Tun-

nels, east of Idaho Springs.

During the blasting periods, traffic will

be held for 20 minutes. This could occur

several times between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to

noon on Fridays. Traffic holds could occur

on westbound Floyd Hill, along U.S. 6 near

I-70, along the Central City Parkway and

on Clear Creek County Road 314. Some of

the traffic holds could cause traffic jams

that last up to 45 minutes.

U.S. 6 (Clear Creek Canyon) is expected

to experience single-lane traffic delays

between Black Hawk and Golden this

week and next. The delays are related to

the construction of new Jefferson County

hiking trails near the highway.

The delays could occur between 7 a.m.

and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays,

with no work anticipated on weekends.

CDOT has posted a series of videos

about the I-70 Floyd Hill project on You-

Tube. Subjects include wildlife mitigation

efforts, corridor safety, environmental ef-

forts, winter construction, project design

and others.

To receive weekly project emails

outlining the traffic impacts and other

announcements for the week ahead, sign

up at codot.gov/projects/i70floydhill/alerts.

You can also sign up

for text alerts, sent out

ing/blasting or other

larger traffic impacts,

by texting “floydhill”

lowercase) to 21000.

A hotline is available

at 720-994-2368. Sign

up for emails online at

cdotfloydhillproject@

state.co.us. For ad-

ditional information,

visit cdot.gov/projects/

Creek Canyon project

Jeffco, visit jeffco.ud/

tion is available at

email address is peak-

2plains@gmail.com.

For real-time travel

information, visit CO-

trip.org.

Receive a free 5-year warranty

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Be prepared before the next power outage.

Call 866-413-5097 to

schedule your free quote!

BOTTOM: The work ef-

forts continue around the

clock at the Saddle Cut,

where new I-70 driving

lanes will be built within

the next three years. The

current I-70 lanes through

Sawmill Gulch near the

bottom of Floyd Hill are in

the background.

RIGHT: Crews work to

preset hillside for blasting

efforts on the north side of

I-70. In the background is

Black Hawk’s Hidden Val-

ley Water Treatment Plant

and the Sinclair gas station

and Squatch convenience

store.

Eastbound I-70 left lane closures continue this weekEastbound I-70 left lane closures continue this week

from the sky.

looked better.

until Friday night.

PAGE 12 • WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL • March 21, 2024 March 21, 2024 • WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL | PAGE 13

Snow-pocalypse hits Gilpin & Clear Creek

Memories and photos from an

epic spring snowfall last week

For more than two days last week, the quick but powerful winter

storm was the number one topic around Gilpin and Clear Creek

counties.

The weather people correctly predicted that it would begin during

the afternoon of March 13 and last until the sun peaked out from be-

hind the clouds two days later. During that time, between three feet

and to over five feet of snow fell on the “richest sTuare mile.” The

further north along Highway 119, the greater the snowfall. Many of

our readers from the Rollinsville area reported five feet of snow.

Dozens of trucks, busses and passenger cars were stranded along

I-70. Roads were closed throughout both counties, and the Gilpin

County Sheriff’s Office opened the Justice Center along Highway 46

to serve as a warming shelter for those who needed it last Thursday

night.

Clear Creek County issued an emergency disaster declaration early

in the afternoon on March 14, and Gilpin County followed suit a few

hours later. According to the Sheriff’s Office. The declaration will

“make the county eligible for funds and resources from the State that

may become available to support the response to the snowstorm.”

The statement went on to say, “Gilpin County has determined that

it is in the best interest of public safety to encourage residents and

motorists to not travel. ‘This snowstorm has severely stretched the

County’s resources,’ stated County Manager Ray Rears. Sheriff Kevin

Armstrong asked the public to stay home and off the roads so first

responders could do their jobs.

The storm also impacted the typically busy Black Hawk and Cen-

tral City casinos. On Wednesday afternoon, the Red Dolly Casino on

Gregory Street posted “closed” notices on the front door. In Central

City, The Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos announced they

would be closed on Thursday, then later updated their notices to say

they wouldn’t reopen until Friday evening.

1on-critical government offices sent employees home, but police

and public works departments fought through the unpleasant condi-

tions, responding to calls.

The storm didn’t stop Central City residents from trekking to Dos-

tal Alley on Main Street, however, where they celebrated with beers

the “Snow-pocalypse” or “Snowicane” event outside.

In the end, it wasn’t the worst snowstorm in local history. How-

ever, it reminded residents that it happens occasionally when one

chooses to live in the mountains.

The webcam at the Lodge Casino on Main Street in Black Hawk allowed those sheltered at home to

watch the storm.

Photo courtesy of the Lodge Casino

TOP: On Thursday, the snowstorm made Central City look like a ghost town as several feet of white stuff fell

from the sky.

BOTTOM: By Friday morning, Main Street looked better. However, places like The Famous Bonanza and Easy

6treet &asino closed Ior tKe da\ on 7KXrsda\ and didn’t reopen Xntil )rida\ niJKt

Photos courtesy of Eric Langan, RCI Hospitality Holdings

The sun came outon Friday in Idaho Springs.

Photo by Amy Tomlinson

Everything ended up closed…

Including Georgetown.

:Kat’s tKe speed liPit witK a pile oI snow”

Black Hawk Alderman Greg Moates typi-

cally posts a picture of the sun rising over

the city on Facebook most mornings. On

Friday, the view from his High Street home

wasn’t as sXnn\ as XsXal

Photo courtesy of Greg Moates

A Snow Cat crew on the job.

Main street of Idaho Springs piled high with the white stuff on

Friday morning at about 7 a.m.

Photo by Danny Tomlinson

Vehicles in Idaho Springs

covered in a blanket of snow